Lunar Eclipse Calendar 2026

TL;DR

• There are 2 lunar eclipses in 2026: a total lunar eclipse (blood moon) on March 3 and a partial lunar eclipse on August 28.
• The March 3 total eclipse was visible across East Asia, Australia, the Pacific, and the Americas. Totality lasted ~59 minutes.
• The August 28 partial eclipse is visible from the Eastern Pacific, Americas, Europe, and Africa.
• Lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch with the naked eye – no special equipment needed.
• 2026 has 4 eclipses total: 2 solar, 2 lunar.

When is the Next Lunar Eclipse?

The next lunar eclipse in 2026 is the partial lunar eclipse on August 28, 2026, visible across the Eastern Pacific, the Americas, Europe, and Africa. If you missed the March 3 total blood moon, this is your second lunar eclipse 2026 opportunity.

Lunar Eclipse Dates 2026-2030

Here’s a complete list of all the Lunar Eclipses from 2026 to 2030.

This eclipse calendar 2026–2030 is sourced directly from NASA’s official lunar eclipse decade table (Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC). All times are TD (Terrestrial Dynamical Time) of greatest eclipse.

March 3, 2026 – total lunar eclipse (blood moon)

The March 3, 2026 total lunar eclipse was one of the most-watched astronomical events of the year. Totality lasted approximately 59 minutes (11:04–12:03 UTC), with maximum eclipse at 11:34 UTC.

Visibility for the 2026 lunar eclipse march event: East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Ocean, and the Americas – including all of North and Central America. Europe and Africa missed out entirely. For US observers, totality fell in the early morning hours (around 3:04–4:03 a.m. PST / 6:04–7:03 a.m. EST).

During totality, the Moon turned a deep copper-red – the classic blood moon 2026 effect. This was the last total lunar eclipse until 2028.

August 28, 2026 – partial lunar eclipse

The partial lunar eclipse on August 28, 2026 reaches maximum at 04:14 UTC, with 93% of the Moon’s diameter entering Earth’s umbral shadow – making it a near-total event that’s well worth watching.

This eclipse is visible from the Eastern Pacific, the Americas, Europe, and Africa, making it far more accessible globally than the March event. For lunar eclipse 2026 USA observers, the action starts late on the night of August 27 (around 10:33 p.m. EDT) and wraps up by 1:51 a.m. EDT on August 28. The partial eclipse lasts approximately 3 hours 18 minutes.

Types of Lunar Eclipses

Total Lunar Eclipse

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes completely into Earth’s umbra, the darkest part of Earth’s shadow. During totality, the Moon often appears red due to Rayleigh scattering of sunlight through Earth’s atmosphere. This is why it is commonly called a Blood Moon.

Between 2026 and 2030, there are four total lunar eclipses, making this period particularly exciting for skywatchers.

Partial Lunar Eclipse

A partial lunar eclipse happens when only a portion of the Moon enters Earth’s umbra. Part of the Moon appears darkened while the rest remains illuminated.

There are several partial lunar eclipses during this five-year period, offering excellent viewing opportunities across multiple continents.

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through Earth’s penumbra, the outer part of the shadow. These eclipses are subtle and may appear as slight dimming of the Moon.

Although less dramatic, penumbral lunar eclipses are still important astronomical events.

Why Does the Moon Turn Red During a Total Lunar Eclipse?

During a total lunar eclipse, sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the Moon. Earth’s atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths and allows longer red wavelengths to bend toward the Moon. This filtered light gives the Moon its reddish appearance, creating the famous Blood Moon effect.

How many eclipses are there in 2026?

4 eclipses total in 2026 – 2 solar and 2 lunar:

How often do lunar eclipses occur?

On average, 2 to 4 lunar eclipses happen every year – but not all are visible from any given location, and many are penumbral (subtle). Total lunar eclipses are rarer: roughly once every 1.5 years on average. After the 2026 total eclipse in March, the next eclipse of the total variety doesn’t arrive until December 31, 2028.

Is it safe to watch a lunar eclipse?

Yes – completely safe. Unlike solar eclipses, a lunar eclipse poses zero risk to your eyes. You can stare at the Moon throughout the entire event with no protection. Binoculars or a small telescope will enhance the view, but they’re not required. Just go outside and look up.

How long does a total lunar eclipse last?

The total phase (totality) can last anywhere from a few minutes up to about 1 hour 40 minutes, depending on how centrally the Moon passes through Earth’s shadow. The full event – from first penumbral contact to last – typically spans 4 to 6 hours.

The March 3, 2026 total eclipse had a totality of ~59 minutes, with the entire partial-phase window spanning about 3 hours 27 minutes.

Lunar eclipse vs solar eclipse

Both involve alignments of the Sun, Earth, and Moon – but the mechanics differ. In a lunar eclipse, Earth sits between the Sun and Moon, casting its shadow onto the Moon. In a solar eclipse, the Moon sits between the Sun and Earth, blocking sunlight from reaching parts of Earth’s surface.

Lunar eclipses are visible from anywhere on the night side of Earth – roughly half the planet at once. Solar eclipses cast a much narrower shadow path, often just a few hundred kilometres wide. That’s why solar and lunar eclipse 2026 events have very different visibility maps.

Another key difference: lunar eclipses are safe to watch directly; solar eclipses require certified eclipse glasses during the partial and annular phases.

FAQ’s ❓

Useful sources

• NASA Lunar Eclipses 2021–2030
• NASA: March 2026 Total Lunar Eclipse – Your Questions Answered
• NASA: Future Eclipses
• EarthSky: Total lunar eclipse March 2–3, 2026
• TimeandDate.com: Lunar Eclipses